Insecurity bottomed out in my gut, and I reached into my bag and pulled out Nebula before letting my bag drop off the side of the bed. I held his skull tightly against my chest in a desperate attempt to ground myself.
I took lashes from my mother’s shadow magic my entire life. I could handle someone talking about my damaged throat and voice box. Right?
“What isthat?”she asked in a gasp.
I glanced over and saw the open disgust on her face as she stared at Nebula. “This is Nebula.”
“Nebula?” Her lip curled in disgust. “It’s ananimal skull!”
“He used to be a kitten, and his soul was sealed to his skull,” I explained. “He’s my best friend.”
“That’s…okay.” She hesitated before turning her head and starting to type away on the tablet. “Okay, no. That’s actually gross, Gravesend. Scratchy voice that reminds me of a phantom on their period and a weird attachment to akitten skull. Surely that’s just a soul eater thing—whatever. I don’t care. I’m not going to spend another second unpacking whatever it is you have going on. So,anyway, my parents sent me here because…” Dreadful fell into a deep rant about her parents sending her to the reform academy to learn to be grateful for what she has and to contribute to society better. Apparently, she had a problem with sleeping with demons that aren’t succubi or incubi. Her parents wanted her to get out of that ‘habit’ and learn to be a rightful noble.
Whatever that meant.
My fingers traced the divots in Nebula’s skull as Dreadful’s rambles faded into the background. My mind wandered to Hunter and the other two men I’d seen on campus today. Something told me the Fates had put them in my path for a reason, but why had my ring turned black when I locked eyes with the demon that smelled like vanilla and smoke, and why did I feel such rage from the one who had been drinking?
5
SKEL
She was as lethal as she was stunning.
The rough texture of the Demonic Archives dug into my back as I leaned against the side of the building, seeking shelter from the sweltering sun. My gaze clung to her without my intent.
She strode beside her father, Death. The fuckingsoul eater representativeof the Demon Council and his family were also the oldest nobility in the Demon Capital. There wasn’t a demon alive that didn’t know about the Gravesend line. Yet, she was hidden away for over two decades.
Rumors circulated about Death finally thrusting his precious daughter into the throes of demonkind. It was suspicious that he chose a reform academy for her, though. Even my fatherheard of the situation, and he found it odd enough to mention it to me.
Given we didn’t speak much, it was worth mentioning.
I had no idea she would be the spitting image of him and still be so fucking gorgeous. I mean, holy fucking Fates. How gorgeous could a demon be?
Her stature, petite and commanding, drew me in like a werewolf to the full moon. It wasn't just her looks that hooked me; it was something deeper, something I hadn’t felt before.
My hand curled around my fae pipe tighter as her scent carried over to me. The sweet aroma of caramel teased my senses, weaving its way into my consciousness and leaving me dizzy with desire.
Fuck. No one should smell that good.
“Now, you can’t eat any souls fully on the first day,” Death warned her in a deep voice.
My skin crawled, and I felt my lip curl back in disgust. Who casually talked about eating souls like that?
I knew they were nobility, but come on.
She shot him a bored glance like she already knew better, but I wasn’t so sure. I’d never met a soul eater before, and I was more than happy to continue down that path.
“Right.” He cleared his throat. “Apparently,that was a bad dad joke I’ve heard so much about.”
My brows furrowed. But then I noticed the way her black silky hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of ink.
Fates, my dick just got hard.
I didn’t even fucking blink as I brought my pipe to my lips and inhaled deeply, feeling the intoxicating fae enchantment work through my veins until I was swimming.
Her slender, pretty fingers twitched, and she had her eyes on me. Large and red like rubies, her eyes were framed by sweeping lashes and held a deep intensity.
A shiver skittered down my spine. Did this princess want to touch me as badly as I wanted to get my hands on her?
